At Forward with Trevor Linden

At forward with Trevor Linden
By Bob Cunningham
Nov 5, 2001, 20:03

Technique, schmechnique claims Vancouver Canucks’ veteran winger Trevor Linden.

The Canucks’ captain and one of the game’s hardest workers, Linden approaches playing in the National Hockey League using the same principles which got him that far to begin with; keep the game fundamentally simple, work hard at all times and always be where you’re supposed to be.

Nothing tricky or flashy. Consistency’s the name of Linden’s game.

“There’s no real secret to playing the (forward) position. It’s just a matter of being willing to work hard all of the time,” says Linden. “Sometimes you get the puck in certain situations and you have to know what to do with it. Other times you’re called upon to play defense, and you have to do your job.

“You have to be able to do what it takes, but that’s not always something that can be easily explained.”

Start with strong instincts

Linden believes that strong instincts are a good starting point. Still, there’s more to playing a forward position successfully than just being where you’re supposed to be on the ice.

“I try to focus on the all-around game,” says Linden. “You have to be reliable.”

Reliable, to the 6’ 4”, 205-pound winger, means being able to handle any situation that may crop up at either end of the ice. You need the strength to out-duel a defenseman for the puck in the offensive zone, and also the speed to out-skate an opposing forward to the puck in your own end. To Linden, it all comes with the territory. And if there’s any one part of the game that you can’t do, or that you tend to shy away from, well…

Maybe you should take up basketball.

“A lot is demanded of players, not just forwards but at all positions,” Linden explains. “But the forwards, especially the wings, are best off being able to combine size and speed and making smart decisions.”

It’s everyone’s job to prevent goals

Linden says young forwards often believe that their defensive responsibilities go toward simply helping out when needed. Instead, he notes, it’s everyone’s job to prevent goals all the time.

“You have to go all out at both ends,” he says. “A forward has to think about more than just scoring goals.”

Still, Linden agrees, a forward needs to know how to put the puck in the net, as well as create situations that can lead to scoring chances. The whole process goes back to Linden’s incessant longing to be the ideal all-around player. In fact, he can’t understand those that prefer to specialize, those who accept a reputation for one or two aspects of the position rather than the whole.

“You have to be willing to work on your puck-handling in traffic, your shot, and you always, always need to be going to the net,” he added. “I can’t emphasize how important it is to go the net.”

Linden says that the so-called “creative” forwards may generate the most scoring chances, but it’s the alert, aggressive forwards who convert them into goals.

“It all goes back to what I said about going to the net,” he said. Linden also relies on forechecking, an under-appreciated art that is mandatory for successful attacks.

Disciplined, but aggressive

“It has to be disciplined, but aggressive. It’s the best way to create scoring chances,” he explains. “You must have guys who are willing to go the distance, end-to-end, and get control of the puck. Waiting for the fancy passes ends up (with scoring chances) being few and far between.”

Vancouver has earned a reputation of being solid, if not spectacular, at both ends of the ice. The Canucks come at you in their arena or yours. They don’t care how they look when they win, or who gets the winning goal. As long as they win.

And while that basic, team-oriented approach makes Linden an ideal captain, the role of on-ice leader doesn’t change his way of playing wing.

Being captain “is not something that I have to work at,” Linden claims. “It’s important in making sure the guys are where they should be, and that everyone is on the same page as far as what we’re doing out there. But I still play my position the same, work just as hard. Being captain kind of just happens. It’s not something you really think about once you’re out there.”

Linden fits in well with Vancouver coach Pat Quinn’s no-nonsense style. But even if the Canucks were littered with a host of perennial all-stars, like the Los Angeles Kings or the Pittsburgh Penguins, Linden’s live-to-work ethic would still be a needed ingredient.

“There’s no sense in getting caught up with things that don’t help win hockey games,” he said. “That’s where I’m coming from. I work hard, do my job. I consider myself reliable and fundamentally pretty sound. Those are what are most important to me.

“And it’s worked out okay so far.”

Bob Cunningham is a Southern California-based freelance writer who contributes to several sports publications throughout the U.S. and Canada.

This first appeared in the 06/1994 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

At Forward with Wendel Clark

At forward with Wendel Clark
By Bob Cunningham
Nov 5, 2001, 20:03

©BBS

Wendel Clark is anything but your typical left wing. A veteran of 11 NHL seasons, and touted as one of the finer players in the game, Clark has reached his lofty status by taking the general characteristics of the NHL forward and putting them under the microscope. He’s highly regarded for his physical brand of play, but the more you talk to the 28-year-old Saskatchewan native, the more you realize just how cerebral he is.

“The game isn’t about just skating back and forth and trying to put the puck into the net,” says Clark. “There’s a lot of strategic planning and thinking ahead that goes on.”

Clark’s leadership and all-out, all-the-time approach helped lead the Quebec Nordiques to the Northeast Division title and top playoff seeding in the Eastern Conference last season. Quebec was ultimately upset in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the then-defending Cup champion New York Rangers.

More than anything else, what Clark brought to the Nordiques—now the Colorado Avalanche—was experience in every sense of the word.

Clark knew that was his primary duty after being traded to Quebec from the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that had advanced to the Western Conference finals in consecutive years prior to his departure.

“We have all this talent here, but they didn’t know success,” Clark explains. “Of course, winning isn’t something you can tangibly teach, but I think my experience has helped.”

Regardless of your skills, Clark says, and regardless of what part of the game you view as a strength versus a weakness, the mental approach is the key.

“First, of course, you have to have confidence in what you’re doing out there. You have to know beyond any doubt that you’re the guy for the job,” he says. “If you have a wait-and-see attitude, you’ll end up seeing the bench. If I’m an aggressive player, it’s because I think that way right from the start.”

Clark’s reputation is one of a mean hitter who can also score a bunch of goals. To some, he’s a defenseman in a forward’s clothing.

A tempered temper

And yet, he’s as offensive-minded as they come. You don’t score 326 points in 471 games, including 30 points in 37 games last season, by being just a headhunter. Clark goes out of his way to note that his physical play is tempered by the situation.

“You won’t see me taking myself out of the play just to hit someone,” he says.

What sets Clark apart are his instincts for those particular situations. Through years of practice and execution, he’s learned where teammates and opposing players alike should be on the ice without actually making visual contact. That comes, he says, from being observant.

“When you score a goal, take a look at how you scored, how you got open, what kind of shot you took,” he notes. “Make sure you know who got you the puck, or who scored off a pass from you. What did they do to help the play? What did you do?

“There’s a lot of repetition in hockey.”

The aggressive theme of Clark’s game came about, he says, “because the rules and very nature of the game dictate that. Wayne Gretzky is phenomenal, and he’s kind of an exception because he’s so incredibly gifted, but most players have to use the rules to their advantage to create plays.”

Clark’s quick decisions on the ice come from sizing up situations in a flash. He determines whether to forecheck, or go out to make himself available for a pass. To many it would seem that Clark prefers the former, but he says that’s not necessarily the case.

“I enjoy the aggressive nature of the game, but my main thing is for our team to score more goals than their team. That’s the bottom line,” says Clark.

“A lot of guys, and I’m talking about some otherwise very good players, are too much into what their roles are,” he says. “To a certain extent that’s fine, but I’ve learned that the best attitude to have is one that says to do whatever’s necessary.”

That, says Clark, goes back to the proper mental approach. And to preparation.

“It’s critical to know who you’re going against,” says Clark, “(and) what they like to do. You don’t focus on just defensemen, because you go up against everybody over the course of a game.”

Clark summarizes his observations by seeking the finer points in a game that usually seems coarse and sometimes ragged.

“When a play comes together the way you plan and you score a goal and it happens because everything you thought was happening came to be, it’s a thing of beauty.”

And Clark, an ugly force to opposing defenders, has been responsible for much beauty in his illustrious career.

— Bob Cunningham

This first appeared in the 11/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Adam Oates: Center of attention

Adam Oates: Center of attention
By Stan Fischler
Nov 5, 2001, 19:49

©BBS

“Class” comes in assorted shapes and forms in the NHL.

There are classy players on the ice whose form lifts them above the masses because of their sheer ability. And there are classy players off the ice who converse and cooperate as if to the manner born.

But there are precious few who fulfill both ends of the classiness scale. One of those few happens to be Boston Bruins center Adam Oates, who has demonstrated that his class transcends the hockey rink, the dressing room and the television studio.

“I miss him immensely, “ says Brett Hull. “I really do, and it’s not just on the ice. It’s away from the ice as well, especially when you’re as close as we were. It was fun to go to the rink together, fun to go on the road together and be roomies. We had a tremendous amount of fun together.”

The Bruins—Cam Neely and Ray Bourque in particular—are no less appreciative of Adam. For the past three years he has been the balance-wheel of the Bruins attack. Last season, despite a nagging hand injury, he totaled 12 goals, 41 assists for 53 points in 48 games. He has since been repaired, and Oates is looking to 1995/96 in the hopes of repeating what he did in 1992/93 when he reached a career high 142 points.

In the following interview, Oates offers his thoughts on a variety of topics, starting with his youth.

Tell us about your family, your brothers and sisters.

I have an older brother and two younger sisters. They all live in Toronto, where I grew up. My parents still live there. My older brother played hockey growing up. He was a good athlete. He got into education more than sports as he got older. He works for the government now. One sister is a teacher and the other is in school.

Did your brother have much influence on your playing hockey?

Very much so. He really influenced me a lot. You go to your older brother’s games and you play with his buddies, and obviously the talent level is better and (you) get to kind of keep rising in the ranks. I was always the guy who got to tag along, and in that sense I was really a rink rat growing up.

Do you remember your first pair of skates?

I remember that I was four-years-old when I got them. I am sure that my dad bought them for me. I don’t remember much more about them.

What kind of a kid were you?

I played lacrosse in Canada growing up. I played a lot of hockey in the winter (and) lacrosse in the summer, so I was busy all the time. I played every sport—basketball, football, whatever. I was very active. I actually love both (hockey and lacrosse), but hockey is obviously the way to go. I did an assortment of different things while growing up. I worked as a landscaper. I worked at a gas station. The usual odd jobs. A hockey player is really all I ever wanted to be. That’s what I still want to be.

What was your favorite team growing up?

The Chicago Blackhawks. Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito were my favorite players. I liked Toronto—I liked to watch Darryl Sittler—but Chicago was my favorite.

Talk about your first organized hockey game.

I don’t remember too much. I played for a team called Burt Robinson’s Flyers, which was a city team in Toronto. I was four years old. It was like seven in the morning and my dad tells me he dressed me at home and I’d sleep in the car on the way to the rink. I don’t know how he did it. I don’t know how any fathers do it. That’s all I remember.

What was the best team you played on growing up?

That’s a tough decision, because when you grow up in Toronto you play for so many different teams. A couple of years I played for a few teams at the same time. It’s not like it is in the States where you play for a high-school team and then a college team. A team I played for, the Toronto Kings, when I was still a pee-wee was a very good team. We went to a famous pee-wee tournament. We did very well there, but lost in the finals.

When did you think that you had the potential to play in the NHL?

Well, I never thought about it until we made the finals at RPI and then all of a sudden people started talking about it and I was surprised. I was really exited. Then we won the title and all of a sudden it turned into a whirlwind.

Were you scouted at all?

Yes, but I was the epitome of a late bloomer. I didn’t get drafted until Major A. I was really slow, and I played in a lot of leagues where no one ever got drafted. I played in Tier II, but by then I was too old. You get drafted when you are 18, and I was 19 playing in that league. I played with Steve Thomas, who plays for the Islanders. Both of us were in kind of the same boat and never got too much attention. Fortunately for me I got a chance to go back to school. I never had played high school hockey.

After college which teams approached you?

After we won the NCAAs about 15 teams—because I was a total free agent. So just about everyone was an option. I kind of wanted to sign with the Rangers, but it didn’t work out. I was really happy to go to Detroit. I felt at the time that I had a good chance of making the team and playing.

Why do you think that you weren’t drafted?

I grew late. I was slow. I never really got the exposure. I was never really an attractive player to scout. I wasn’t surprised that I wasn’t drafted. I kind of understood it. But I did score a lot of points on every level I played on. In the ten rounds in the draft teams always take a lot of gambles; I always thought that I would have been a good one.

How did you end up signing with Detroit?

It was pretty wild because it was kind of like an auction. It got down to five teams; both New York teams, Washington, Minnesota and Detroit. At the last second Detroit kind of sweetened the pot. It was pretty cool. It all came down to money. All the years of hard work, and then all of a sudden…this.

What do you remember about your first NHL game?

My first game was about the only good game I played in six months. Camp was very tough, though I learned a lot. The first game I played in Minnesota, I didn’t play that much. I played with John Ogrodnick and Ron Duguay. In the second period I scored the first goal of the season for the team. We were on the power play and I put in a rebound.

About five minutes later I sent John Ogrodnick in on a breakaway and he scored. So I had two points in my first three shifts. I didn’t play much the rest of the game, and we tied like 6-6. So for a debut it was a good game.

What problems did you encounter in your first year?

I didn’t really get along with coach Harry Neale. He was actually a nice guy—we got along personally. As a player, however, our team was struggling and he really didn’t like me too much as a player. I wasn’t playing that good, necessarily. I am a guy who needs ice time; most finesse guys do. I didn’t get to play too much, and the team was playing awful. That was the year that the Wings ended up with like 40 points.

There were many games where I sat on the bench and I didn’t even get to play at all. But I learned a lot that year. They sent me down in the middle of the season and I got my confidence back. Then they fired Harry Neale and replaced him with Brad Park. Parkie liked me and I got a lot of playing time after that. My last twenty games I had like 20 points, and I played really well.

How did you feel about getting sent down to Adirondack?

I saw it coming for a while. I hadn’t played in a couple of weeks, and the club was losing. We lost like three in a row to the worst teams in the NHL. A few nights later we were embarrassed by our rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs, by a 9-2 score. After practice the next day they sent me down. I think that it was for the best to be sent down because I didn’t really play (with Detroit) for three weeks. I lost my confidence and was out of shape. So it was good to go to the minors and play a lot of hockey.

Were you sorry that you were traded to St. Louis?

Our team was upset in the playoffs by Chicago, and they kind of had to make a move and I became the most likely candidate. I was devastated. I couldn’t believe it at all. It made no sense at all. I loved Detroit so much, but I think that it really helped me as a hockey player.

Brett Hull speaks very highly of you. How was your relationship with him, on and off the ice?

It was as good as it can get. You don’t get to spend that much time with one of your best friends when you get older. People get jobs and move away and that sort of thing. It was just great. Going out every night and having a blast. Unfortunately, Hullie was getting paid and I wasn’t. As much fun as it was, you have to think about your future. I wanted a piece of the pie and they didn’t want to give it to me.

We both helped each other’s careers out tremendously, and he’s the best goal scorer in the NHL. Obviously goal scorers are paid more money, that’s no question. However, (St. Louis) had made me a promise that they didn’t keep.

What was management like in St. Louis?

St. Louis was going through some hard financial times then. Nobody really knows. They’ve done some weird deals. The Scott Stevens deal was weird. They treated me very well over there until my last contract. Trouble seems to follow them.

Did you like playing at the Boston Garden?

I loved it. It was absolutely fantastic. It was my favorite place to stay. The atmosphere was so unique and traditional. I think that the Boston fans are very special and unique. It’s been a lot of fun to play here. I’m very lucky.

Did you want to come to Boston?

Yes, Boston or Los Angeles were the two cities that I wanted to go to. I always wanted to come here and play with Cam Neely, or go to Los Angeles and play with Wayne Gretzky.

How do you feel about fights in hockey?

I got into a couple in the minor leagues. I’m not a fighter, and I don’t pretend to be. I’m not big enough. I got beat up once by Daryl Stanley. In the NHL I fought Charlie Bouchina. He was a real big guy. It was more out of frustration than anything. I got killed.

What was your most memorable game?

I guess that would be in college. In the semi-finals I got five assists and we won in triple overtime. It was a wild game. We tied it up in regulation with 10 seconds to go. We beat Minnesota-Duluth.

Who would you say was your best coach?

Brian Sutter. I feel lucky because I think that Brian has turned into a really good coach. I think that its tough to play for a coach for six years and still have a great rapport. He’s a serious guy and I’m a serious guy. He’s ready every night, and he’s intense.

What accomplishment are you most proud of in hockey?

I was close to getting 100 assists in a season. I think that I’m also the only guy to play with two 50-goal-in-50-game scorers. Hullie had 50 in 48, and Cam got it in 40 or 42. I don’t think that any one else has done that.

This first appeared in the 11/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

At Forward with Claude Lemieux

At forward with Claude Lemieux
By Stan Fischler
Oct 31, 2001, 16:44

©BBS

In winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as 1995 playoff MVP, Claude Lemieux, the New Jersey Devils winger, underwent the most dramatic metamorphosis since Hall of Famer Stan Mikita converted himself from troublemaker to Lady Byng Trophy winner for Chicago in the 1960s.

When New Jersey launched its playoff drive in round one against Boston, Lemieux was expected to do nothing but doggedly shadow Bruins ace Cam Neely. But rather than simply play defender, Claude left the slow-footed Neely in his wake and pursued offensive openings whenever they became apparent. He did so in the opening game, which he personally signed as his very own, and continued to excel throughout the playoffs.

When it was all over, no one was surprised that Lemieux was named the Conn Smythe winner. The man who until a few months earlier was known primarily for irritating other players certainly appreciated winning the award.

“The Stanley Cup is what we were playing for, and to win the Conn Smythe Trophy—with all the names on it—it’s just incredible my name will be on it. To be the most hated guy in hockey and have your name on this trophy is special.”

A major transformation

So how did a player everyone thought was a one-dimensional pest turn himself into an MVP?

“I was never born to be a star, but I know I’m a hard guy to play against—a player who will disturb not just by using my body or speed, but my scoring, too. I don’t try to hurt people. I just try to hit them as hard as I can.

When I first started, I was more of a role player. As I got older, I wanted to be more complete. What I’ve tried to do is take a bit of one player, like a Cam Neely, and a bit of another, like a Mark Messier.”

Something people have always noticed about Lemieux is his intensity.

“I am not the type of player who drives himself crazy thinking about the game. I’m a reaction-type person. When I go to the rink in the morning, I’m not the type of guy who could go out for a business lunch on the day of the game. (Devils broadcaster) Peter McNab says he can tell in the morning if I’m going to have a good game. He says, ‘If Claude is an ass in the morning, he will have a great game.’”

On-ice, that intensity used to get Lemieux into quite a few scraps. But he has learned to redirect his energy.

“I used to like to fight, but I found it interfered with my love of playing. I’d rather be on the ice. It drives me nuts sitting in the penalty box for five minutes when I could be out there scoring. I can hurt people a lot more with my shoulders and goals than I can with my fists.”

Lemieux urges all hockey players to focus on what’s important, and not get carried away with the moment.

“I play disciplined hockey. You’ve got to save your energy. Energy might he the difference at the end of the game.”

Which isn’t to say you should coast, or shy away from the physical stuff.

“You get physical, but that doesn’t mean sitting in the penalty box. There’s a big difference. You can be an agitator, but if you are going to be a big playoff performer you’ve got to be very disciplined. Watch how many shots (hits) I take in a series; I take them for the team.”

He prefers pressure

And as we all learned this year, Lemieux has an extra speed for post-season play. He says it’s the pressure that psyches him up.

“Every game in the regular season means a lot, but not as much as the playoffs. It’s a do-or-die situation every night, and I love to play under pressure. I grew up watching some of the clutch players like Clark Gillies and Bobby Nystrom. Everybody remembers what they did in the playoffs. Who’s remembering what they did in the regular season?”

As for shadowing—that activity which was supposed to be the 13-goal scorer’s primary playoff task—Lemieux says it’s not a solo effort, nor is it a limiting activity.

“Shadowing someone is not a one-on-one thing. The rest of the players are involved, and we (move) the puck out of our end. Once we get the puck, I have the option to be free to go.

“When I was young, my goal was to become as complete a player as possible. I wanted to kill penalties, be on the power play; be a guy who could play center at times, left at times, (and) right wing. I wanted to do a little of everything.”

Which explains why shadowing is merely a point of departure for Lemieux.

As a rookie with Montreal, Lemieux was quickly indoctrinated into a Stanley Cup-winning organization. But with the Devils, he says, it wasn’t so easy.

“In Montreal, we were part of a tradition…it was very special. Here with the Devils, we’re building a tradition. We’re the first ones to win the Stanley cup for the New Jersey Devils.

“When I came here five years ago, this was my goal. This was my dream. And to be one of the players that made it come true is just incredible.”

— Stan Fischler

This first appeared in the 09/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Interview: Martin Brodeur

Interview: Martin Brodeur
By Stan Fischler
Jun 9, 2006, 13:01

©BBS

Martin Brodeur is the quintessential chip-off-the-old block. His father, Denis Brodeur, was a first-rate professional goaltender who starred on several minor league teams, and also played for Canada’s 1972 bronze-medal Olympic club. After his playing days ended, Denis became the team photographer for the Montreal Canadiens. Thus, young Martin grew up exposed to the professional hockey life from a young age, and began a goaltending career that eventually landed him in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Brodeur played so well in Quebec’s top Junior league that he was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 1990 Entry Draft. Since the Devils were blessed with solid goaltending at the time, everyone expected Brodeur to remain in the minor leagues for several years. But when Peter Sidorkiewicz arrived at the Devils 1993 training camp with a serious shoulder injury, coach Jacques Lemaire decided to gamble on Brodeur as the back-up to No. 1 goalie Chris Terreri.

Brodeur excelled when given the chance to play, and soon found himself getting more and more opportunities. By mid-season it had become apparent that Brodeur was not only a bona fide rookie-of-the-year candidate, but also a legitimate threat to dislodge Terreri as the Devils primary goaltender.

Eventually, the youngster from Montreal accomplished both feats. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top freshman, and got most of the starting assignments during the New Jersey’s run to the 1994 Stanley Cup semi-finals.

In this month’s interview, Martin Brodeur reflects on his life as a player, and his maiden season in the NHL.

When did you start playing hockey, and have you always been a goalie?

I started playing when I was three years old. At first they had me playing up front and I was very good. As a matter of fact I probably would have remained a forward but one day our regular goalie didn’t show up so I decided to try going between the pipes. Ever since then, I’ve been in the net.

Needless to say, I wouldn’t have stayed there if I didn’t play well, but I took to the new position. When our coach asked me, “Do you want to be a goalie or a forward?,” I had no hesitation answering. I said “I want to be a goalie.”

Did your father influence your decision?

I was so young at the time that I didn’t even know about what a terrific goaltending career my father had. (But) this much is certain—whichever position I decided on was okay with my father, because the primary thing was that he wanted me to play hockey. He wanted me to play just for the fun of it. He never pushed me. In fact, I never went to a hockey school in my life. Maybe if I had, I would have gotten tired of hockey and not stuck with the sport the way I did.

Once you became a goalie, did he give you any advice?

He would observe me a bit more carefully. It was interesting because, despite his professional background, he never gave me a hard time if I played badly, but he would ask me questions about what I was doing. And when he would ask me questions, I would come right back and ask questions of him. That’s when I began learning more about his background and what the bronze Olympic medal was all about. Up until then, I had never made the connection.

Tell us about your days in youth hockey.

I went from one league to another—Bantam, Midget, on up—until I reached Juniors. I did well, although there’s one incident that still sticks out in my mind. I was playing in a Midget tournament, and one that I really wanted to play well in, and there was this one situation when the opposition forward was coming down on me and the puck was out between us.

I took a gamble and rushed out, trying to poke check the guy at the blue line, but I missed him completely. He just went around me and put the puck into the empty net. To this day, when friends want to bug me, they’ll phone up and say, “Hey, do you remember that poke check you missed in Midget?” The funny thing is that it’s one of the few things I remember from my youth hockey days.

What do you like best about being in net?

The pressure. That you can always make the difference in a game. Even if a goalie doesn’t have a great game, he can make the big save that will make the difference between winning and losing. I like making the difference in a game, and the goalie is the best person to do that.

You mentioned pressure. How do you react to a bad goal?

From time to time every goalie lets in a bad one, and when that happens you just try not to think about it. When it’s a tight game I have to really concentrate and look at the puck all the time. If I lose sight of it, that’s when I get into trouble. A bad goal is damaging to your confidence. If it’s a good goal, I say to myself, “Well, I did my best,” and that’s it. Just like that, you erase it from your mind.

(But) you have to do that even if its a bad goal because the next one could be even more important. Hockey is a mental game. If you’re strong mentally, everything will go right.

For example?

I had a big mental test early in (the) season. It was December 8, 1993 when the Devils played Montreal at The Forum. Jacques Lemaire told me that I would be in goal that night. It was quite an occasion and, as you would expect, the media made quite a big deal about it.

I must say that it was the first time that I ever experienced such an exciting feeling as I did that night. Usually, I’m not a nervous guy at all but on this night I was pretty nervous. (But) once the anthems were over and the game started, the Canadiens took their first shot and my nervousness went away—just like that!

We beat the Canadiens, and the next day I had 20 calls on my answering machine with people congratulating me. It was great.

A lot of players have game-day rituals. Do you?

It’s very important that I watch my favorite soap opera, Days of Our Lives. After that, I have to take my nap—but not more than two hours sleep. If I sleep more than that, I’m too tired for the game. Then I eat a little snack, like a banana or chocolate bar, and I’m ready to go. The main thing is my soap and my sleep, that’s it.

The problem is, when I play on weekends Days of Our Lives is not on the air and that presents a problem. What I try to do is find something else on the tube that catches my attention, but nothing can match my soap. What it comes down to is being in the best frame of mind for the game.

Do the coaches work with you a lot, or pretty much leave you alone?

I do everything I can to help myself, but there’s always my goalie coach, Jacques Caron, available to help. He’s always talking to me in practices and between periods during the games. He wants me to watch the puck, look at the puck everywhere on the ice, all the time. He wants me to stay on my feet as much as possible. I’m a big guy, so if I stay on my skates I cover a lot of the net.

When I got to the NHL, I knew that I had the talent. But Caron’s instruction has helped me improve on what I originally brought to New Jersey. My work ethic is very good. I love playing hockey. For me, being a professional goaltender is not a job. When I go to a practice, I could usually stay at least another hour after we have to leave. That’s how much I like what I’m doing. Usually, I’m the last person to leave the rink.

Was your rookie season everything you expected?

My rookie season was funny. When I got to New Jersey and made the big club, I figured that I’d play a couple of games here and there, and that would be it. The next thing I knew, Jacques was playing me every two games, which was really good. It gave Chris a rest, and me, too. That left us more sharp when we had to play.

What made it even easier was that Jacques’ system emphasized defense, and our defense played very well. When your club is good defensively, you don’t need so many goals to win a game. When we would get a lead of two or three goals, we knew that we could keep the lead and win the game.

What about the atmosphere in New Jersey?

I like being a Devil. I go back to the day that they drafted me in Vancouver. Everyone said that I would be picked in the middle of the second round, maybe 30th overall, so it was a surprise and an honor to be picked in the first round. When my name was called out, it was hard to believe. And then moving up to New Jersey at the age of 21 and being so close to New York City!

Some players find that the big city is a distraction to them. I figure if you want to make it a distraction you can, but I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to go out and party. I always have to keep in mind that my primary purpose is goaltending and I must do everything I can to perfect my job.

How do you stay ready, night after night?

I know that I don’t have to be as strong as a forward, but I do need stamina and I try to be very well-conditioned. I bike and run—constantly work my legs. Hockey is also a mental game, so I’m always thinking about that. Your mind is like your body: it has to work and work and work. Part of that work is communicating with teammates, especially the defensemen.

When one of my defensemen goes into the boards for the puck, I have to be sure that he doesn’t get hit from behind. I talk to them as much as possible because I found that some goals just happen because of a lack of communication. A team with good communication is going to be a very strong defensive team.

Was it tough making the jump to the NHL?

As the 1993-94 season progressed, I developed more and more confidence. Part of it came from just looking around the league and seeing how former teammates of mine were doing. Felix Potvin was the starting goalie for Toronto and he had been a teammate of mine in Midget hockey. Stephane Fiset had made the big club in Quebec and he, too, had been on our Midget team. Not bad, eh?

Which is not to say that it was easy. There are too many good shooters in the league—guys like Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull. The way they score is unbelievable. Everything they do seems to create a goal or go in. It’s unbelievable.

I also got a lot of help from my teammates. Bruce Driver talked to me a lot, and anytime I got scored on Claude Lemieux would come up to me and say “Come on, kid, don’t worry about it.” The Devils took good care of their rookie.

Did your teammates believe in you right from the start, or did it take some time?

I guess they started getting confidence in me when I won my first NHL game against Boston. I beat the Bruins, I think 4-2 and then 5-2 over Quebec. In my first game, I was picked the first star. That was some kind of blast for me.

You mentioned some of the good shooters. Do you ever worry about getting hurt?

I’m more afraid in practices than in an actual game. In games, a goalie doesn’t have time to be afraid. I just try to stop the puck any way that I can. If I had to stop it with my mouth, I would do it. I’m not afraid of the puck—not in a game. If you’re afraid, you can’t play the game. We’re well protected, and when it’s going to hit you, it’s going to hit you.

When my dad played, goalies didn’t even wear face masks. As a result, my father had about 114 stitches taken in his face. I can’t imagine what it would be like playing without a mask in today’s hockey.

What will you remember about the 1994 playoffs?

I learned a lot from the experience. One lesson came from playing New York during the regular season. I didn’t do well against the Rangers during the regular games, but what I came to realize after the playoffs was that it doesn’t really matter what happened in the past. You can only control what will happen in the future. Another lesson is that you can’t let yourself get too down or too up.

Give us your impressions of the Game Six marathon against Buffalo.

That was the one that was 0-0 after regulation and then we played into a fourth sudden-death period. It’s difficult to explain what it was like to be part of an experience like that. When I was playing, my concentration was so intense that all I was thinking about was finishing the game—getting it over with. Granted that Buffalo got the only goal, but I was still proud to be part of such a classic.

After the game, I was more mentally than physically tired. Actually, in the last two sudden-death periods, the skaters were so tired that neither team had that many shots on goal, so I had to work more with my mind than anything else.

What was it like facing the Rangers, knowing you were only one win away from playing for the Stanley Cup?

When we went up against the Rangers, I felt very good about myself because the coaches, in starting me, gave me a lot of confidence. I went into the series really open-minded and played my heart out. In the seventh game, I gave up one goal in regulation and so did Mike Richter for the Rangers. I can’t get down on myself for giving up the other goal in the second period of sudden-death. But it was really hard to take, because when you play a close game like that, and you’re so close to winning, you feel sorry and bad.

But there were so many happier moments in my rookie year. Winning the opening series against Buffalo was very important. When the coach picked me to start, a lot of people were saying, “Well, we’ll see what the kid can do now.” There were a lot of skeptics who thought a rookie couldn’t hack it in a pressure situation like that. I showed them that I was capable of handling playoff pressure.

To what do you credit your playoff success?

It all happened because early in the season the coach played me a lot, and that gave me experience and confidence. Playing in Montreal and beating the Canadiens, (then) playing me in the playoffs against Boston. Especially when Chris won the two games in Boston to tie the series at two and then Jacques came right back with me in Game Five at home. Things like that are what I’ll never forget.

Rookie of the Year. How does that sound?

The Calder Trophy really made me feel good. I was thinking that the year before Teemu Selanne won it after scoring 76 goals for Winnipeg and then they voted for me the following season. Well, that’s some honor because, to me, the Calder is the hardest trophy that you can win. You only have one chance at it in your entire career. So now I have to build on that.

But anytime I see a problem coming, I’m going to think about 1993-94 and what I accomplished that season.

Stan Fischler writes regularly for several major sporting publications.

This first appeared in the 10/1994 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

At Forward with Todd Simon

At forward with Todd Simon
By Bob Cunningham
Oct 30, 2001, 17:47

Whether you’re progressing from Bantam to Midget or moving from the American Hockey League to the NHL, flourishing among increasingly stiff competition can be a stumbling block for even the best young talents.

Todd Simon, a fleet-skating rookie center for the Buffalo Sabres, endured that test last season, when he was called up to the Sabres after leading the AHL in scoring as a member of the Rochester Americans. At Rochester, Simon had amassed an impressive 85 points in 55 games. He was routinely accounting for two or three points per game, while admittedly paying more attention to his offensive production than to rounding out his entire game.

In two previous seasons at Niagara Falls of the Ontario (Junior) Hockey League, Simon scored even more, racking up 271 points in just 131 contests.

Promotion, understandably, had become commonplace. First from Niagara Falls to Rochester, and last March from Rochester to the NHL.

It was the opportunity every minor leaguer awaits. And yet, the realization of a dream can often produce negative effects; it can be greeted with bouts of anxiety.

So even though Simon tallied only a single assist in 15 games with the Sabres, the 22-year-old is comfortable with how he made the adjustment, and realistic in confronting his own expectations, and the expectations of others. As a forward, he had to deal with the additional mental burden that the Sabres might expect him to put up big numbers upon his arrival.

Can’t shun the spotlight

If he were a defenseman, the low scoring totals would be easier to hide. But as a forward with a reputation for lighting the lamp, it’s difficult to shun the spotlight.

“I just tried to do the things you do that get you (to the NHL),” says Simon, a 5’11”, 185-pounder who’s into practicing what he preaches. “I didn’t even think about trying to do a lot of scoring, because I knew it wasn’t the minors. I wasn’t concentrating on one thing. I was trying to concentrate on everything.

“I wanted to do my best in all aspects, starting in my own end.”

Simon notes that it’s hockey-player nature to be cautious upon entering new turf. Instead of looking for his shot, or otherwise attempting to establish himself offensively, he did everything in his power to assure he wouldn’t gain recognition through negative circumstances. His thinking: I may not score a lot, but I’m not going to get burned.

“When you get to a new level, you have to be willing to feel your way around for a while,” he says. “I think the worst thing you can do is to try and do too much. There’s that urge to prove you belong, but you have to be patient.”

A key element for new arrivals, Simon believes, is executing within the coach’s system. “Play the system, and play it well,” he says. And give yourself time to “adjust to playing with the big boys.”

Some rookies make the mistake of going over their heads. They try to make an immediate impact upon their call-ups—and they often do, in the form of crucial on-ice errors that result in their being cast back where they came from.

“It can be tough. You can be taken out of your game easily,” says Simon.

The simplest approach to staying within your game, he says, is not to look ahead—not even to the next period.

“Work on doing well that shift, and don’t think beyond that.”

Fundamentals ignored?

Simon believes it’s conceivable that today’s younger players aren’t as well prepared as in the past to take the next step in their development. “Coaches,” Simon feels, “aren’t teaching the fundamentals as well as they used to.

“I see a lot of kids trying to be the superstar. They’re not into the fact that it’s a team game,” Simon explains. “The game starts with fundamentals. Learning how to play the game correctly before worrying about anything else. I’ve seen kids do that, and I’ve seen others who (only) love the contact. They’re not into playing hockey. They just go around hitting people.”

Simon has plenty of time, at his young age, to adapt to the pro game. He’s proven virtually all he can in the minors, and will likely be rewarded with increased ice time this season.

“That’s when I can get comfortable. And when I get to that stage, I can think more about creating scoring opportunities and doing some of the other things that I’ve had success doing in the minors,” he says. “The NHL is not the minors, though.”

Bob Cunningham is a Southern California-based freelance writer who contributes to several sports publications throughout the U.S. and Canada.

This first appeared in the 11/1994 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Mats Sundin

Mats Sundin
By Sam Laskaris
Oct 30, 2001, 11:49

©BBS

Though he’s a National Hockey League veteran, Mats Sundin has been forced to start proving himself all over again this season. The Swedish native made international headlines when the Quebec Nordiques selected him first over-all in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. Sundin became the first European ever to be chosen at the top of his draft class.

Sundin demonstrated the Nordiques made a wise selection by collecting more than a point per outing (363 points in 324 games) during his first four NHL campaigns.

Sundin also dominated the headlines at this year’s draft, but for a different reason. During the proceedings, he was involved in a blockbuster trade between the Nordiques and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto gave up captain Wendel Clark, defenseman Sylvain Lefebvre and prospect Landon Wilson to obtain Sundin, defenseman Garth Butcher, left winger Todd Warriner and a draft choice. So as he entered his fifth NHL season, Sundin, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound center was forced to start from scratch in his bid to win the respect and support of teammates and fans.

Ever since the Wayne Gretzky trade, it’s become clear that nobody—not even a #1 pick—is untouchable. What were your thoughts on being traded?

When you get traded, at first it’s kind of a weird feeling knowing you’re going to lose your friends and your teammates. I got along well with everybody off the ice with the Quebec Nordiques. I was there for four years. On the other side, it feels good to come to a team like Toronto with all the history, all the tradition and the good representation the organization has. They’ve been to the Stanley Cup semi-finals two years in a row. And I’m very excited to come to a team that finally has a chance to go very far in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

I understand that you talked to former Toronto star Borje Salming over the summer. What did he tell you about playing in Toronto?

When I first heard about the trade I was kind of confused. And I didn’t know if I should be happy or sad. But I talked to Borje for about half an hour. And after talking to him I was very happy to be a Maple Leaf. He told me he had a very good experience from Toronto—with the team, the city and everything. And he said if I give 100% for everybody, they’ll like you and they’ll support you. There’s a lot of pressure on the team because there’s a lot of people following (it). But that’s fun.

A lot of pro players say they prefer to play in the United States for financial reasons. How do you feel about that?

I’m very happy to stay in Canada. I like Canada. It’s very similar to Sweden. I haven’t had any problems playing in Canada.

There were other players involved in the trade when you came to Toronto. But it’s been interpreted as a deal of Wendel Clark for you. Is that how you see it?

It was a three-for-three trade. I don’t know who was for who. I’m not here to replace Wendel Clark. I know he’s a great player and was very, very popular here in Toronto. I’m just here to play my type of game and my style and help the team as much as I can.

Some of your critics have suggested for your size you might be able to play more of a physical game. Do you see yourself changing at all, or are you happy playing your finesse game?

I’m not going to run around looking for hits or trying to kill people in the corners. I’m from Sweden and most players there play a technical and skating game. When a hit comes to me I’m going to hit, I’m not going to turn away. But at the same time, I’m don’t think I’ll be out there looking for hits.

How popular is hockey in your homeland?

It’s very popular. It’s one of the biggest sports there. Hockey and soccer are very big. Sweden has the best elite league in Europe. A lot of young talented players are coming out of there and playing in the NHL.

When did you start playing hockey?

I was probably five or six years old when I started skating. And then I was about seven when I started playing for a Pee Wee team.

When did you think you might be able to make hockey your career?

Probably when I got drafted. I was 18 and I thought I could make a living out of what at that point was my hobby.

Do you still take pride in the fact you were the first European to be selected first over-all in an NHL Entry Draft?

I’m very proud of it. It made me very, very happy. Being drafted, though, still doesn’t prove anything. It only a way of saying that you’re a part of a team now. And it’s up to you to show the people what you can do.

Even though you were the first pick, you decided to spend another year playing in Sweden before coming to the NHL. Why?

I don’t think I was ready for the NHL. I was pretty young and hadn’t played a lot in Sweden at a high level. I wanted to play with the national team in Sweden to get some international experience and to play in the Swedish Elite League for one year. I think it was a very good for me. I learned a lot that year, and it that helped me to adjust to the NHL.

What sort of adjustments did you have in your first NHL season?

First of all, it’s a smaller rink here than in Sweden and Europe. It’s a faster game here and a little bit more physical. But most of all it’s a higher intensity over here. It took a while to adjust.

Do you think the Nordiques lived up to their potential the last few years?

A few years ago we had a great year and finished fourth over-all. We had a very, very good year but got beat out in the first round against Montreal and they went on to win the Stanley Cup. I played in Quebec for four years and we only went to the playoffs once. The team has a lot more potential than it’s been showing the last four years. Hopefully, they’ll do better this year.

How would you describe your first four years in the NHL? Are you satisfied with your individual performance?

It’s been up and down. Two years ago I had my best season so far and I was very happy with that year. Then last year was a disappointment, both for the team and personally. I think on paper we had a lot better team than was shown. Myself, too, I could have had a better year than I did.

Most people know hockey is a business. I understand you were involved with some contract problems in Quebec. Does this sort of thing affect how players do on the ice?

You try to block it out. You don’t want it to be affecting your performance on the ice. You try to think about the game and leave the business side to your agent and manager. I wouldn’t blame the fact I had an up-and-down season because of the contract developments. I don’t think that was the case.

Have you set any sort of goals for this season?

If you’re talking about points or goals, I always keep that to myself. I just want to make sure I give 110% with my new team and hopefully we’ll go far in the playoffs.

Coming into your first training camp as a Toronto Maple Leaf, did you know a lot about the other players here?

Of course. There’s a lot of guys that have been playing very well the last few years like (Doug) Gilmour, (Felix) Potvin and (Dave) Andreychuk. I’ve seen them on the ice before and I’ve played against them. They’re a very good group of players.

How much do you think your countryman Kenny Johnson is going to contribute to the Leafs this season? Is he ready for the NHL?

It’s tough to say. He’s got all the tools and all the talent. It’s all up to him whether he wants to play or not.

Wendel Clark was a very popular player in Toronto and there were a lot of angry people here when he was traded. Did you purposely stay in Sweden this summer to avoid all the Wendel-hype in Toronto?

I was here at the beginning of August for a week. I met some people in the organization. I just wanted to stay with my family some more. You’re over here for nine or 10 months of the year. I wanted to spend some time with my parents and girlfriend in Sweden.

Do you think this year’s Leafs team is capable of going back to the Stanley Cup semi-finals, or a step further?

I’m sure we all have the motivation. And I think the potential to go very far is there. But it’s tough to say. It’s a long point from now until the playoffs. Hopefully, we’ll do well when they do come around.

Are you going to be satisfied with second-line status in Toronto?

Yeah. Playing behind Doug Gilmour is nothing to be ashamed about. I’m just 23 years old and I still have a lot to learn. I’m very happy just to get out there and get some ice time and try to help the team win.

You’ve already played four seasons in the NHL. What sort of things do you still have to learn?

You’re learning all the time. You’re getting more experience learning about the game and developing as a person on the ice and off the ice. The way I see it, I’m still young and looking at other players, trying to pick up something new all the time.

Sam Laskaris is a freelance sportswriter in Toronto

This first appeared in the 11/1994 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Kelly Dyer: In Her Own Words

Kelly Dyer: In her own words
By Stan Fischler
Oct 30, 2001, 07:58

Although Manon Rheaume has obtained considerable publicity for a relatively minimum amount of goaltending against men, the real goods among female netminders in male leagues is red-headed Kelly Dyer.

The Boston native completed a successful season with the West Palm Beach Blaze, and is now with the Orlando RollerGators of Roller Hockey International. Dyer, who received a special citation in 1994 from USA Hockey for her contributions to the sport, stands above Rheaume as the most significant of the female netminders.

Those who have seen her in action over the past decade marvel at her dedication, perseverance and ability. She has excelled at every level she’s played, including a stint on the US Women’s National team. This summer Kelly is making her first appearance as a pro roller hockey player. Here, in her own words, she describes her fascinating growth as a goaltender and as a trailblazer in a male dominated sport.

My love of hockey began when I was eleven years old and was a direct result of the hockey mania in the New England town where I grew up. There was a lot of girls hockey played there. In fact, there were three teams—older girls, college girls and us little kids. We were the coolest and had the most fun. Because we already had a goalie, I played up front. But I really wanted to be in the nets, and every day I’d bug the coach about it. And every day he’d say, “No, no, no!”

But one day our goalie didn’t show up, so I hopped right into the crease with my forward gear on. Every so often the regular goalie would miss other practices so, finally, the coach figured he couldn’t rely on her anymore, and got me a pair of pads. That’s how my career began.

I give my father a lot of credit. At first he didn’t think a girl could play hockey, but then he checked around and found out about the all-women’s league and helped get me started. My parents never put pressure on me to play—I just wanted to in the worst way.

One advantage I had was that I was always real big for my age group. I’m almost 5’ll” now, and I was fully grown by the time I was 13. By that time I was already playing with college kids, and once traveled with them to Brampton, Ontario, for a tournament. I went up there to be backup goalie and I wound up playing in the semi-finals and finals, which we won. It was the first time a team from the United States had ever won the tournament.

In high school, I tried out for the women’s basketball team and the men’s hockey team at the same time. I made both teams but picked hockey. In my sophomore year I began practicing with the varsity once in a while. Three guys who eventually made it to the NHL were there; Tom Barrasso and Bobby Sweeney were sophomores, and Jeff Norton was my age.

Tom wasn’t too friendly to me and we hardly communicated. Despite that, I still had a great deal of respect for Barrasso because his work ethic was amazing, and he was focused on what he wanted to do. He wasn’t the only classmate who thought a girl shouldn’t be (on the team). But, from what I gather, it was a direct reaction from their parents. There were parents who wouldn’t talk to my mother and father when they were standing there at the games. So I can’t really blame the guys for their attitudes if that’s the way they were brought up.

Nevertheless, I was proud of myself. I considered myself a pioneer in women’s hockey because I was the first goalie ever to play for Women’s Team USA. I was part of the team that won the first ECAC championships at Northeastern. I was the first girl to play school Boys Division I hockey. And, after Manon Rheaume and Erin Whitten, I’m the third women to ever play in a men’s professional hockey league.

I’m not naive. I expected the men to be crude to me, and my theory on that is that the men didn’t invite me to be on their team. Actually, I feel better if the guys act as they would if I wasn’t there, than if they put on those happy little faces and only spoke in complete sentences without any swears in them when I was around. But I do want them to put on a towel if they’re walking through my dressing room area. Other than that, I’d rather they be themselves and not make a big issue out of it.

When I first came down to West Palm Beach to play in the Sunshine League, the coach said, “Listen, there’s a girl coming, no swearing!” As a result, the guys were total geeks around me during my first week with them. Then, one day I broke the ice after taking a hard shot off the knee cap and shouted, involuntarily, “Oh, bleep!” Everyone turned and looked at me, whereupon I simply said, “Females do swear, too.”

From third to first

I made my way forward and finally landed at Northeastern because the coach wanted me badly and they offered me a full scholarship. The University of New Hampshire had the best women’s team at the time, which was good for me. I thought it would be fun to be on a team that wasn’t tops because if you’re always number one, then if you do anything less, you’ve failed. But to take a team that’s third and work hard and take that team to the top, that would be the ultimate, I figured. And that’s exactly what we did!

All in all I had made a good move, although the coach and I banged heads quite a bit. The problem was that I had gotten a lot of publicity after Barrasso had graduated and I was the one who filled his shoes. There were all the headlines like, “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby.” I was on radio and TV and the coach automatically figured that he had inherited an ego case. But by my junior year the team had come together beautifully and we went undefeated through the whole season and the playoffs. It was the first time Northeastern had ever won the ECAC title. Going undefeated was incredibly exciting. The undefeated streak continued into my senior year and came to 48 straight wins, before finally losing to Providence, 7-2, at home.

In retrospect, I can see that the loss was a good thing because I (couldn’t) imagine going into another playoff undefeated—the pressure was building and building. Fortunately, we beat Providence in the finals that year and I kept moving up, finally going for tryouts for Team USA in 1989.

That was my first exposure to international hockey and competing against European women. I was named MVP on Team USA in 1990 and was also named Best Goaltender in the World for ‘90. It was (also) in 1990 when I met Erin Whitten. I liked her style. She’s a real feisty little goalie; total butterfly, total quick mechanical-style reaction which is totally different from my style. She’s a strong girl and I respected her the first time I saw her play. Likewise, I consider Manon Rheaume a good goalie. She’s quick and has great reflexes.

What she’s done for women’s hockey is tremendous. She has opened the eyes of parents whose little girls want to play goal. And it opened the eyes of men as well. Guys didn’t even know that women played ice hockey. She helped educate an entire population. The fact that she’s very pretty helped the image of women hockey players as well. It used to be that we had been viewed as big, masculine, ugly-looking things with missing teeth and scars all over our faces. People react positively to the idea that such a good-looking woman could play such a rough-and-tumble game as ice hockey.

Some of the (off-ice) things she’s done I view less positively, however, like her appearing sleeveless in an ad. It’s not what I would have chosen to do for myself. If people want me to tell my story, then that’s talking about hockey and I love it. But when Manon leans forward in the white, sleeveless shirt or when she’s on those hockey cards with the guy in his leather jeans, leaning against the Harley, that’s selling sex, too. She has switched hockey brands I don’t know how many times. It’s sort of disrespectful, but I guess it’s also money in the bank, so it depends on your perspective.

I just watch the puck

By 1993/94, I was playing pro against men in the (Florida) Sunshine League. In my first game against Lakeland, the opposition thought they could intimidate me by shooting the puck at my face. Sure enough, right off the bat I took a blast off the face mask, but it didn’t faze me a bit. They thought that they’d scare the heck out of me with the high shot and then shoot the next one low into the net, but it doesn’t work that way with me. I just watch the puck.

As for my male teammates, they were a bit stand-offish at first—so polite. When I’m playing hockey, I don’t need them to be polite; I need to know who’s doing what and who’s going to react in what way. But after a while, we began to jell. Finally, one of the guys said, “Hey, Kelly, do you mind if I talk disgusting around you?” I said, “Not as long as you’re being yourself and you’re happy with that talk.” So, he turns around and says, “See, guys, I told ya!”

It didn’t take me very long to comprehend that there’s a big difference between playing women’s and men’s hockey. Because men shoot the puck harder, I have to step out another foot from the crease on my angles. In women’s hockey, I had progressed to a point where I felt that I could almost control the shooter at times. But against the men, I was getting smoked on breakaways. Finally, I stopped three breakaways by the guys and that was the highlight of my career up until that point. Against the men, you can’t make the first move or they’ll smoke you.

A big concern for me when I entered the Sunshine League was how the other goalies on my team would cooperate with me—or not cooperate, as the case may be. Let me tell you, it was amazingly positive. One of them, Todd Boycine, would stay with me for an hour after practice and if I was having a problem with a certain kind of shot, he’d shoot 50 pucks at me until I got it right.

I have many memories about my debut with the men. In my first start, which was a win against Daytona, one of the opposition broke in clean on a breakaway in the second period. I decided to give him the glove in an old give-and-take, and I read him the whole way in and I just picked it off with my glove. As one of the old-time NHL goalies once said, “It’s as easy as pickin’ cherries off a tree!”

Actually, it was a lot tougher than that, and I never did become a number one goalie in the 1993/94 season. I had a lot of self-doubts because I didn’t play all the time. But I sincerely believed that I could play in the pros against the men—at least in the Sunshine League.

I guess my mother and father did, too, considering what I had already accomplished. I helped the image of the female hockey player, got myself some good experience and I won some hockey games. The proof is sitting on the mantelpiece back home at my parents house.

It’s the puck I sent them after winning my first game against the men as a pro.

This first appeared in the 08/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Roman Hamrlik

Roman Hamrlik
By Sam Laskaris
Oct 30, 2001, 07:51

©BBS

As is the case with most new franchises, the Tampa Bay Lightning have had their share of growing pains.

Tampa Bay failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of their first three National Hockey League seasons, including 1995. But the future provides some hope, especially if blueliner Roman Hamrlik continues to be a member of the Lightning.

Hamrlik, who was the top pick overall in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, enjoyed little fanfare during his first two seasons with Tampa Bay. The native of Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia, registered just 21 points during each of these campaigns. But the recently completed third season was different—and not just because of the owner-imposed lockout that shortened the schedule to 48 games.

It was a year in which Hamrlik started to come into his own. In the process he also started being heralded as one of the top young stars in the league. Listen to one of the comparisons he’s drawn.

“If I were to compare him, I’d compare him to Ray Bourque,” says Lightning center Chris Gratton. “He plays 30 minutes a game, he’s offensive, makes great passes and likes to have it going. He likes to throw his weight around. That’s a great asset for him to have.”

Though Gratton sees Bourque-like qualities in his teammate, he noted that such a comparison is a bit premature—especially since Hamrlik is still a relative newcomer to the league, while Bourque has already recorded feats worthy of a Hall of Fame induction.

“It’s not fair to compare right now,” Gratton says. “But I think Roman is going to be an all-star defenseman, too; if not next year, the year after.”

As for Bourque, he’s already played in 13 NHL all-star tilts and is a five-time winner of the Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s top defenseman.

He lights the lamp

Though he’s not in Bourque’s class—at least not yet—Hamrlik (12-11-23) was among the league leaders in goals scored by a blueliner in 1995. Only Paul Coffey (14 goals) and Larry Murphy (13 goals) lit the lamp more often than Hamrlik did. And though he potted only nine total goals during his first two NHL seasons, Hamrlik wasn’t surprised with his scoring output this year.

“My goal is for every game to score a goal,” Hamrlik says of the lofty expectations he places upon himself. “I think I’m capable of that.”

And the comparisons to Bourque don’t bother Hamrlik, either. In fact, he seems to enjoy them.

“The best player in the league is (Pittsburgh’s) Jaromir Jagr,” he says. “And as far as defenseman, the best is Ray Bourque. Nobody can be better than him. But maybe I can be like him.”

Barring the unforeseen, the Lightning realize that in Hamrlik they have a player with potential to be a dominating force for years to come.

“Roman is going to be a dandy player,” offers Lightning coach Terry Crisp, who like Hamrlik has been with the franchise since Day One. “He’s only 20 years old (Hamrlik turned 21 on April 12) and already he’s our best defenseman.”

As the Lightning coach, Crisp has had an up-close and personal look at Hamrlik’s development. And he likes what he sees.

“He’s getting better every time out, every game out,” says Crisp, who himself played with four different teams over 11 NHL seasons, and won two Stanley Cups with Philadelphia (1974 and 1975).

“We just like the progress he’s making,” says the man who coached the Calgary Flames to three straight Smythe Division titles (1988-90), and a Stanley Cup championship in 1989. “Obviously he’s what the future of this team is going to be built on.”

Despite being a first-round pick, Crisp says the Lightning—for the time being, anyway—are just letting Hamrlik be himself.

“We don’t put any specifics on what he’s supposed to do or not,” Crisp says. “He’s a defenseman. He’s supposed to learn the game and get better as he goes, and let nature take it course in a natural progression. If he decides he wants to take the puck and go, he’s got the green light to do that. We’re not going to hold him back. We’ll just try to guide him and make sure he doesn’t get too enthusiastic one way or another.”

Veteran Klima has helped

While some overseas players have difficulties upon their arrival in the NHL, Crisp believes Hamrlik’s early adjustments weren’t that trying. “The management was patient; we were patient with him, the players were patient with him and the players were good to him,” Crisp says. “What’s not to like? He’s living in Florida. He’s young. He can go fishing. He’s had a ball for three years. Most youngsters should be so unlucky!”

Hamrlik has been feeling more at home in recent seasons thanks to countryman Petr Klima, a veteran NHL winger who joined the Lightning via a trade with the Edmonton Oilers.

“Petr’s been good to Roman and really helped him out with the language and what not,” Crisp says. “Petr’s been through it all and seen it all, done it all. He can certainly advise Roman of the pitfalls of what’s out there; what to avoid and what to look for.”

Those looking for a weakness in Hamrlik’s game will have to look fairly hard, Crisp adds. “I wouldn’t say he’s missing anything right now. Well, just experience, I guess, and maturity. (But) you get that with age and with working.”

Lightning President/GM Phil Esposito wasn’t surprised with Hamrlik’s performance, especially the offensive abilities he displayed, this season.

“That’s why we drafted him,” says Esposito, who had a brilliant 18-season NHL career with Chicago, Boston and the New York Rangers. “We figured he’s going to develop into a true superstar in this league.”

Develop is the key word. “We’ve let him come along slowly,” Esposito says, adding the same treatment has been accorded to Gratton and Jason Wiemer, who were the club’s first-round draft choices in 1993 and 1994, respectively. “We’re not like other teams. We don’t believe (in rushing people). We believe in bringing a kid along slowly.”

Though he’s heard the Bourque-Hamrlik comparison, Esposito, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984, is non-committal on whether he agrees with it.

“I don’t compare people,” he says. “People used to say is Paul Coffey another Bobby Orr. Well, they (do) tie their shoelaces the same. Only time will tell whether (Hamrlik) will be like (Bourque). Nobody was like Orr. And I’ll tell you what, not too many people are like Bourque.”

Still room to improve

While most others in the organization heap only praise upon Hamrlik, Esposito is one who doesn’t mind throwing some negative criticism at his budding blueliner.

“He’s a little lackadaisical,” Esposito opines. “His intensity isn’t as good as it should be. When his intensity is 100 per cent, he’s awesome. But his intensity isn’t there every evening. That’s the difference between him and Bourque and Orr and some of these other guys. There isn’t a big difference between a superstar and a regular player. What’s different is intensity, desire and determination. That’s what Roman has to learn. But he’s only (21). People keep forgetting that.”

Lightning center Brian Bradley isn’t surprised it took until this season for Hamrlik to be more noticeable on the ice.

“He’s playing really well, he’s playing with confidence,” Bradley says. “And that’s the difference. It only comes with experience in the league. The first two years there were high expectations and he had a lot to live up to. It only comes with time. Not many young kids come into the league and play well off the bat. It takes two, three or four years to adjust.”

Gratton, who was selected third overall in his draft year, also knows that being a high draftee can be tough.

“Especially for Roman, coming from (the former) Czechoslovakia,” Gratton says. “It’s an enormous step. It’s a different world coming to America. He’s done tremendous in his English and in his lifestyle. Just being able to translate your life into a totally different situation is difficult. I think he’s done a really good job. He’s worked really hard.”

Gratton is certain Hamrlik can take his game to even higher levels.

“He’s going to be an all-star defenseman, you can mark my words. He’s one of the hardest working guys I know. And he’s a great asset for this team.”

Gratton, who is being projected as a 30-to-40 goal man himself, says the fact that Hamrlik scored with some frequency this season wasn’t a shock to him.

“There’s no surprise that Roman can score goals,” he says. “He’s an offensive defenseman and he loves to lug the puck up the ice. And the coaching staff is letting him do that. When you let a player like that create his own offense, he’s going to score some goals. That’s what Roman has been doing for us, and it’s been great.

“Hopefully he can keep doing that for the next 10-12 years. I’d love to be here with him to watch him develop because he’s going to be a heck of a hockey player.”

Something many believe he is already.

This first appeared in the 08/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

At forward with Joe Nieuwendyk

At forward with Joe Nieuwendyk
By Bob Cunningham
Oct 30, 2001, 07:23

©BBS

It would not be revealing a big secret to say that any player who reaches, and stays at, the National Hockey League level knows how to play the game. In this column, we routinely share the tangible strategies and techniques of those professionals in order to assist aspiring centers and wings across North America in taking their own game to the next level.

But this month our focus is on an aspect that can only be described as an intangible—the mental aspect of the game.

A valuable player can be described as one who gets widespread respect not only for his productivity, but also for his unselfishness. A guy who’s not always mentioned in the same breath with the game’s greatest players and, yet, you kick yourself when you forget about him.

Enter Calgary Flames center Joe Nieuwendyk. Drafted in the second round of the 1985 draft, the 6’1”, 195-pounder has averaged more than 40 goals per season over his career. Typical upper echelon, multiple all-star qualifications.

But there’s one factor that distinguishes Nieuwendyk even more than his having become just the second rookie in NHL history to surpass 50 goals, a feat he accomplished in 1986/87 fresh off a three-year college career at Cornell. And that’s his ability to focus when all the marbles are on the table—at playoff time.

A master mind

Nieuwendyk is one of those few players who can, subconsciously or otherwise, increase his effectiveness under the do-or-die format of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He is a master at mind control; at intensity tempered by discipline. It’s an absolute must, he says, in order to be at your best when the team needs it most.

“You have to remember the things you can do, and not be unrealistic about things maybe you don’t do so well,” Nieuwendyk says. “That’s what (players) should be focusing on as the playoffs approach.”

With Calgary having clinched the Pacific Division title relatively early on, the Flames knew that they were playoff bound. And so begins the mental preparation, which will eventually be followed by the physical execution. For all his physical skills, Nieuwendyk’s mental stability is one major reason why the Flames are regarded as a cerebral squad.

But how does that translate to on-ice effectiveness? Any NHL player or coach will tell you that the game is “different” in the playoffs. There’s more caution, perhaps a bit more mutual respect, and a lot more desire.

Nieuwendyk doesn’t consciously alter his style of play based on a game’s importance, but with the better players things have a way of evolving.

“I think it’s important that you keep it simple,” he says. “That’s what we’ll try to do (in the postseason). You get to this point playing well, so there’s no reason to try and change anything just because it’s the playoffs.

“But at the same time, you have to realize what the situation is. It’s time to get focused on the playoffs.”

Vets show the way

Nieuwendyk believes it’s important for veterans like himself to show the way and keep things under control. Even for forwards, he says, aggressiveness must be maintained on the defensive end, too.

Especially, as is the case with the Flames, when a young goaltender is being asked to excel in the playoff pressure-cooker.

“We have a good situation with Trevor Kidd. He’s been doing the job for us all year; that’s no problem for us,” Nieuwendyk says. “The big thing for us is to keep the puck away from the crease.”

Unlike a hot shot goal scorer who seems absent when it comes to full-length hockey, Nieuwendyk has earned the kudos of his peers for his total presence. The secret to his success, he maintains, is his willingness to follow the play regardless of where it takes him.

“We’ve got a lot of quality players on this team, and we play well together. Everyone is willing to help out everyone else,” he says.

For all his unselfishness, however, Nieuwendyk also knows how to determine when its time for him to step up and assume a larger role. His first major task for the Flames is scoring goals—he’s scored at least 30 in all but one year of his NHL career—and he knows that the team will always look to him for offense. After all, he’s one of the league’s highest-scoring centers.

“Whether it’s the playoffs, or a preseason game. You want to do whatever you can to help your team win,” he says. “For me, its offense.”

Most players want to be regarded as leaders, but for Nieuwendyk the key is to be willing to take on that role without forcing it. When veteran defenseman Al MacInnis, now with the St. Louis Blues, left the Flames during the offseason, it became clear that Nieuwendyk (and teammate Theo Fleury) would be even more heavily relied on.

He hasn’t disappointed.

“He’s a vital part of our hockey team, not just for the scoring he does but for the intangibles,” Calgary coach Dave King says. And first among those intangibles come playoff time is focus.

“I’m just one player on this team,” says Nieuwendyk. “You can only do so much. The big thing is to focus on your own job and make sure you do the best you can at that aspect.”

— Bob Cunningham

This first appeared in the 07/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®